Toots & the Maytals - True Love (CD)

All Music Guide

That Toots Hibbert's voice, drenched in Memphis soul and rooted in Jamaican gospel, is still a powerful instrument after four decades of performing is the first thing you notice while listening to this collection of duets with pop, rock and reggae artists. "Funky Kingston," featuring Bootsy Collins and the Roots is one of the best tracks here, retaining the loose, loopy groove of the original Maytals version, probably because, from Bootsy's opening invocation of "are you ready for some Toots, Roots and Boots," nobody seems to take things too seriously. Keith Richards manages not to sound too ravished on "Careless Ethiopians," while Ben Harper and Hibbert effectively ride an atmospheric, slowburning arrangement of "Love Gonna Walk Out On Me" to emotional fulfillment. Hopefully True Love will bring the woefully overlooked Toots some welldeserved attention.

- Steve Leggett , All Music Guide